Some Beautiful Flowers From Hawaii

I was so taken with the beautiful flowers that surrounded us around every corner on Oahu.

As we got off the plane.

In our hotel lobby.

In the hotel shopping area.

By the hotel pool.

On the way to Manoa Falls.

At the Lyon Arboretum by Manoa Falls.

At the beach.

And more at the beach.

In the window boxes at the restaurant.

On the Temple grounds.

From one of the Temple workers.

In Waimea Valley.

There were so many beautiful flowers

On the way to the Falls.

I think we stopped every 10 steps

To take more pictures.

I didn’t want to miss

one incredible creation from nature.

The colors

Were incredible.

The design

Spectacular.

And at Queen Kapiolani Garden.

More vibrant

Amazing colors.

One last look

Before we leave

This beautiful island

And head for home.

I was actually able to grow Hibiscus at our last home, in Layton. I need to try them again at this home, to remind us of our vacation in paradise. 

I’m linking to:

Inspired By at The Inspired Room

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Garden Envy

I’m so envious of you ladies who live in a warmer climate and have already been able to plant flowers and vegetables. We’re not really safe to plant here till after Mother’s Day. I always want to plant before then and have the itch for weeks. It’s So Hard To Resist Planting. I thought I’d look through some of my pictures from last year to remind me how beautiful my yard can look if I resist just a little longer. Here’s some inspirational photos of my yard from last Summer.

We’ve been having beautiful weather the last few days.

But we’re expecting rain tomorrow (which isn’t bad) but possibly snow the 2 days after that.

Don’t be surprised. It’s actually snowed here on Mother’s Day before.

Because I have a North facing house. My tulips aren’t even blooming yet.

But that just means I’ll be enjoying them longer into the season, right?

I can get out and till now and at least play in the dirt a little.

I can’t wait to see all these beautiful flowers again.

And the garden fresh fruit and vegetables.

I can’t wait to taste these again, but it’s always a battle who gets them first. Us or the birds.

I don’t know if this helped my situation or made it worse. I can at least get the peas and carrots in now. Maybe that will hold me over for a while. You don’t know how lucky you warmer climate girls have it. I’ll have to live vicariously through you for the next few weeks.

I’m linking to:

Show and Tell at My Romantic Home

Inspired By at The Inspired Room

Bring In The Spring at Posh Pieces

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Dreaming of Spring

Ugh! This is what it looks like in my neck of the woods today. Yes, it’s snowing! Why is it snowing again? Isn’t Easter in 4 days?

 I am more than ready for Spring.  So today I’m looking through some of my favorite magazines and dreaming of no snow and warmer days. These Liberty of London products would be perfect on the patio for a luncheon. Or even now and I could pretend it was actually warm outside.

What about these flower covered buckets, vases, watering cans and gloves. I’m going to have to be on the lookout for a floral watering can. I would love it sitting on my porch or back deck. 

This is the year to get my side yard completed and climbing roses are definitely on my list of things to plant there.  

I could sit and read on a patio like this all day. Maybe another idea for my side yard.

What about more climbing roses and a path leading through a gate. I’m starting to see a pattern here. I think I’ve almost got my side yard planned out.

Maybe one day my yard will be all grown up and have big trees in it. I can just imagine all that beautiful shade.

And wouldn’t it be so fun to have a dinner party or luncheon in my newly finished side yard? When I first started looking through the magazines I really didn’t see a pattern to the pictures I was being drawn too, but it soon dawned on me. I’m truly ready for Spring, but more than that, I’m ready to plant and landscape the side yard. I’m ready to enjoy that area of my yard. As soon as we moved into this house, I claimed that part of the yard as mine. No one else would really want it anyway. And I’ve been dreaming about what to plant, where I want the path to go, what kind of trees I want  and what the little patio should be made of.    

But that’s going to have to wait at least a couple weeks. The weather here can be pretty unpredictable until the middle of May. So for now I’ll dream and plan and maybe go buy me a pair of these shoes I bought Amanda a few weeks ago. Those might cheer me up until the weather turns.

Photos 2, 3, 4 - Country Living

Photos 5, 6, 7 -Better Homes and Gardens

Photo 8 – Fresh Home

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Gardens & Farmer’s Markets and a Recipe

Who can resist fresh fruits and vegetables? Not me! That’s why I’m hooked on gardens and Farmer’s Markets. Because everything is grown locally it stays fresh longer once you get it home. And it tastes sooooo much better. Nothing compares to fresh picked garden tomatoes. Just ask my youngest. He picks them and eats them straight off the plant. He likes the tomatoes even better than the strawberries. Here’s some yummy fresh produce to look at:

Just a thought: Unless you want to eat zuchinni everyday or share it with all your neighbors, plant just one or two plants. You’ll have plenty. Because I have so much zuchinni I’ve been making a lot of zuchinni bread and love this recipe:

4 Cups coarsly shredded zuchinni

3 Cups flour

2 1/2 Cups sugar

1 1/4 Cup vegetable oil

4 eggs (beaten)

1 Cup chopped nuts (optional)

1 Tbls. & 1 Tsp. vanilla

1 Tbls. cinnamon

1 1/2 Tsp. salt

1 1/2 Tsp. baking soda

1/2 Tsp. baking powder

Heat oven to 325. Grease bottom of two loaf pans. Beat on low 1 minute. Medium 1 minute. Pour into pans. Bake 50-60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans.

Just a couple notes: I got this recipe from my mom who lives in Florida, so I used 2 loaf pans and 12 muffin cups instead of just 2 loaf pans. I don’t know if it’s the altitude difference, but they wouldn’t bake all the way through in just the loaf pans. The kids like the muffins better anyway.

I also sprinkle a cinnamon and sugar  mixture on the top before baking and it makes a yummy sweet crust on the top or you can make a cream cheese frosting if you like. Yummy! 

I’m linking this to Julia’s Hooked On Party at Hooked on Houses. Stop by and see what others are hooked on this week.

Have a beautiful Fall weekend!

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